OK, you were promised some important wedding info in our next update. It's coming later today, honest. But would what sort of Matt Hanley blog would this be if there was nothing written about this:Wow. Juice Williams promises to get the extra inch on fourth down and delivers. Illinois beats the No. 1 team in the country for the first time since 1956, which is just slightly before Lynne and Matt were born.
Now, a lot of people are saying this win makes up for another Illinois-Ohio State game, where another No. 1, undefeated team lost. Matt's not so sure there's a connection, but he'll say this: Matt and Lynne drove to that 2005 game - the infamous detour through Michigan. Illinois basketball was undefeated, ranked No. 1. It was the first time Lynne thought Matt (and Alex and Luke and Keith) would cry because of a sports team. (They didn't. Much.) Afterwards the group was wearing orange in Columbus. Junior high kids were making fun of them. Matt is out looking for those kids right now.
Here's the only bad part of the big win: Every year, the Beacon News reporters have to sign up to work one holiday. Matt always picks New Year's Day, because he gets to write about the first baby of the year. After a year of arrests, stolen shrimp and murder trials, it's a nice change of pace. Of course, Matt never had to worry about Illinois playing in a New Year's Day bowl game before. Amazingly, that could actually happen this year. Matt feels a touch of the plague coming on already.Oh yeah, the sandals? We just wanted to prove Matt can be clad head-to-toe in Illini gear and he isn't the least bit ashamed.
Oskee wow wow!!
Oskee wow wow!!
